2nd European Symposium on Pollarding Pollarding towards a circular - PDF document

2nd European Symposium on Pollarding Pollarding – towards a circular economy at the landscape level 1 st , 2 nd & 3 rd March, 2018 Sare (Basque Country, France) Open to all and focused on actionable information Affordable registration fees Simultaneous translation between English, French and Basque

s e l l i a l POLLARDING - AGROFORESTRY - BIOMASS - NEW PRODUCT STREAMS - MECHANISATION - LIVELIHOODS - BIODIVERSITY - CLIMATE - FERTILITY o v t e s e n g o r t : o t o h p r e g n a h c « Trees surround and infjltrate all rural activities » Fernand Braudel, historian. « Agriculture is nothing without trees. Forestry is nothing without agriculture. The only thing that exists is agroforestry. » Dr. Paul Burgess, Cr anfjeld University Contact details Euskal Herriko Laborantza Ganbara Zuentzat, 64 220 Ainhice Mongelos, France - www.ehlgbai.org Contacts: Joana Hoqui – Agroforestry facilitator - +33 (0)5 59 37 18 82 - joana@ehlgbai.org (French-speaking contact) Association Française d’Agroforesterie 93 route de Pessan 32 000 Auch - www.agroforesterie.fr Contacts: Fabien Balaguer - Director - +33 (0)6 27 39 48 72 - fabien.balaguer@agroforesterie.fr (English-speaking contact) 2 1ST, 2ND, 3RD MARCH, 2018 | SARE, BASQUE COUNTRY, FRANCE

POLLARDS: TREES WITH A THOUSAND USES POLLARDING - AGROFORESTRY - BIOMASS - NEW PRODUCT STREAMS - MECHANISATION - LIVELIHOODS - BIODIVERSITY - CLIMATE - FERTILITY PROVIDING A SOURCE OF TIMBER AND RENEWABLE ENERGY Pollards are local renewable production plants, producing timber and other products such as animal bedding. In addition, with appropriate management, pollarded trees can meet local energy needs by providing fuelwood and animal fodder. IMPROVING SOIL HEALTH Pollards contribute to the enrichment of the soil, by providing leaves and annually decomposed thin roots, and also restore valuable mineral elements to the land. Green shoots and ramial chipped wood can be used as mulching material and improve soil health. In addition, the roots of the trees link to the fungi of the soil to form my- corrhizae. These mycorrhizal networks increase the soil’s ability to absorb water and nutrients. ENHANCING BIODIVERSITY ollarded trunks tend to form many cavities and cracks which ofger important spaces for many species of fauna to live, feed or hide. They are attractive for cave-dwelling species, insectivorous passerines and nocturnal birds of prey such as owls. In addition, they provide homes for squirrels, martens and bats, not to mention beetles, bees and other pollinating insec ts benefjcial to agricultural production. SUPPORTING SUSTAINABLE AGRICULTURE Growing trees is a sustainable way of storing the carbon dioxide responsible for global warming. There are many additional benefjts of managing trees on a farm. Trees can improve the infjltration of wa- ter into soils, create microclimates and reduce the rate of water evaporation in during warm summer months. Pollards stand at the crossroads of agriculture and environment sectors. The symposium will provide the opportunity for greater dialogue and cooperation between the two sectors and advance our understanding of the role of productive trees in meeting the challenges of global change. 2ND EUROPEAN SYMPOSIUM ON POLLARDING 3

A SECOND EUROPEAN SYMPOSIUM TO BRING POLLARDING - AGROFORESTRY - BIOMASS - NEW PRODUCT STREAMS - MECHANISATION - LIVELIHOODS - BIODIVERSITY - CLIMATE - FERTILITY POLLARDS BACK INTO PRODUCTION T he fjrst European symposium on pollarding was organised by the “Maison Botanique de Boursay” in 2006. It was held at the Agricultural High School in Vendôme. It involved 24 spea- kers from 8 European countries and attracted over 250 participants from various backgrounds, including researchers, farmers, ecologists and policy-makers. The workshop brought an aware- ness of the continuing importance of pollarding to a wider public, and motivated many European rural development organisations to include pol- lards on their agenda. The recent interest in agroforestry has drawn attention to the practice of pollarding in our rural landscapes. Bringing neglected pollards back into production will help to safeguard the conserva- tion and regeneration of cultivated trees of historic value. This second symposium aims to provide the technical and organizational tools required to achieve the reintegration of pollards into our farming systems, and to improve current practices where pollarding continues to exist. This event will provide the opportunity to assess technical and scientifjc knowledge. It will turn the spotlight on exciting innovations in pollarding management which have emerged in response to recent economic and environmental change. By exploring traditional use of pollards, as well as illustra- ting innovative management approaches, the symposium will demonstrate the benefjts of integrating pollarding into modern farming practices, including its role in enhancing biodiversity, carbon capture, biomass production, and water conservation. 4 1ST, 2ND, 3RD MARCH, 2018 | SARE, BASQUE COUNTRY, FRANCE

THE ORGANISERS POLLARDING - AGROFORESTRY - BIOMASS - NEW PRODUCT STREAMS - MECHANISATION - LIVELIHOODS - BIODIVERSITY - CLIMATE - FERTILITY A TEAM APPROACH The decision to launch the Second Symposium was based on the closely aligned interests of seven organisations at the forefront of agroforestry development in France and Europe. This complemen- tarity will provide the basis for efgective sharing of knowledge, and ensure engagement with the key stakeholders at local, national and European level. French Agroforestry Association (AFAF) Since 2010, AFAF has been working on the development of agroforestry in France, both on the agricultural and policy scenes, and with the objective of reaching/involving a more general audience. The association is a platform for exchange and partnerships between farmers and agricultural practitioners, natural resources managers, researchers, policy-makers, local, government offjces, operating both at national and international level. It is committed to ensuring that trees are recognized as having a central and critical role in sustainable agricultural systems. Through its extensive network, AFAF will be able to identify innovations from France and Europe, bring its experience in organising international events, and skills in communication to relay information to a wide audience. Contact persons: Fabien Balaguer, Director / Séverin Lavoyer, Communication manager Euskal Herriko Laborantza Ganbara (EHLG) The Euskal Herriko Laborantza Ganbara Association supports the development of sustainable agriculture in the Basque Country. EHLG’s main areas of expertise relate to agricultural policy, farm installations and transmission, land-use planning, and the creation of added value through better control of production costs and product processing and marketing. EHLG has supported farmers in the development of agroforestry practices on farms since 2016. Pollarding played a very important role in the agricultural systems of the Basque Country until the last century. EHLG will share its knowledge of the region to highlight this historical heritage and mobilize the local actors through the event. Contact persons: Panpi Olaizola, Member of the Bureau / Joana Hoqui, Agroforestry facilitator / Iker Elosegi, Coordinator Maison Botanique de Boursay The “Maison Botanique de Boursay” works with difgerent audiences to raise awareness about the multiple relationships that exist between humans and plants (wild or cultivated fmora), and to nature in general. It has been campaigning for more than 20 years for a better knowledge and use of pollards. Its role in the development of the “Pollards’ Pathways” , the creation of the European Centre for Pollarding, and the organisa tion of the fjrst European Symposium on Pollarding, have all contributed to its in depth knowledge of the subject and an extensive network of partners at the European scale. The Maison Botanique will play a key role in activating a network of European pollarding specialists and will share its experience to support the logistics of running the symposium. Contact person: Dominique Mansion, vonlunteer in charge of the symposium organisation 2ND EUROPEAN SYMPOSIUM ON POLLARDING 5